MAP WORKS BASIC TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS

A map is a representation of all part of the earth, usually on plain surface. In map reading, symbols are
used to represent features. A diagram is a simplified drawing showing the appearance, structure or
working of something. The difference between a diagram and a map are as follows:

 Diagrams can be defined as simplified drawings that show the appearance and different parts of
something.
 Diagrams are usually line drawing that has labels.
 The labels help to explain how something works or how something should be done.
 A diagram often shows something in three dimensions, that is: how long it is, how broad (or
wide) it is and how high it is.
 This can be abbreviated as L x B x H or 3D an example of a diagram is a plan for the house
showing all the rooms in the house or a sports field showing the dimension of each part of the
field.
 On the other hand, a map is a specific type of plan that is a representation of a real place.
 This means that it shows a likeness or image of a place, but it is much smaller than the real
place.
 A map represents an area of land. It can show physical features of nature, such as mountains
and valleys unlike a diagram.

Characteristics of a map

 Symbols in a map key(A key)

 Direction indicator (Compass)
 Grid systems
 Scale
 Elevation

Symbols in a map

Symbols on map are used to represent about information about a place to show different things. Each
symbol on a map tells something different about a place.

 The key is the name for the list of symbols and the description of what each symbols means.

Types of map symbols

Point symbols:

 These mark specific place where something important must be shown.

 The point can be a dot, square, triangle or a special symbol developed by the cartographer.

Line symbols:

 These show the route taken by roads or railways.

 They can also show the course of a river or a boundary line between countries

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Polygons:

 These are shapes with many sides of different lengths.

 They show areas such as forests, the surface of a lake, or farmland used for a specific crop

Symbols or conventional signs

 Symbols or conventional signs used on a map are shown in the key at the bottom of the map.
 Symbols or conventional signs are needed because it is impossible to show many features
correctly according to scale for they will be too small to be seen.
 Symbols are helpful as they show what the land is like and what man makes use of it as well as
the way man lives.
 However symbols or conventional signs are dependent on each and every map used meaning
that a pupil must study the key of every map given

In your notes draw the following symbols

1. Fire point
2. Ladies toilet
3. Gents toilet
4. Fraud/corruption
5. No parking
6. Fire assembly point

Direction indicator

 It is used to show directions on a map. It can be a small drawing with arrows showing the
cardinal points on a compass; north, south, west and east.
 Maps are usually drawn with north at the top of the map.

Grid systems

 A grid is a pattern of lines that cross each other, forming rows from side to side and columns
from top to bottom.
 A grid system is used to describe the position of any given point within the grid pattern
 The starting place for reading the grid reference is called the point of origin and it is important
to take note of it.

A scale: a map scale gives the relationship between distance on a map and distance on the actual
ground.

Types of scales

Statement of scale (word scale)

 A statement of scale or word sale uses words to describe the relationship between the units
measured on the map and the units measured on the actual ground.
 For example, one centimeter on the map to represent two kilometers on the ground.

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  This can be abbreviated as 1 cm represents 2km.

Ratio scale (Representative fraction (R.F. scale)

 This type of scale uses only numbers to describe the relationship between the distance on the
ground and that on the map. For example,1:50,000 or

Line scale

 A line scale is a line drawn below the map that shows the relationship between map distance
and ground distance.
 The length of the line matches the distance on the map. The units of measurement that are
labeled on the line represent the distance on the ground.

Maps and Places: The use of grid references

 A map is a representation of the earth or part of it drawn on a piece of paper, wall plank etc.

Position of places on the earth’s surface:

 To find a particular place on a map, these must be an accurate method of locating it.
 The accurate method to be used when finding a particular place on a map is the grid reference
system
 The grid reference system consists of a series of lines drawn across a map running from top to
bottom and from side to side.
 hese lines are numbered making it easy to locate the exact place.

How to read grid references

 The grid lines running from North to South (Top to Bottom) are called Eastings because they
represent distances eastwards from the origin.
 The grid lines running from West to East (side by side) are called Northings because they
represent distances Northwards from the origin.
 When locating a place you have to start with Eastings and then Northings.

Grid Reference are given in one of two ways: Four Figure grid reference and Six Figure grid reference.

Four Figure Grid Reference

 We use a four figure grid reference if we want to identify a large object e.g. a lake
 The four figure grid reference depicts only a general location of the point in the grid square.
 When taking a reading from a grid reference map, you take the EASTING first (or the x-
coordinate) after taking the eastings, NORTHINGS are then read. (or the y-coordinates)

Six Figure Grid Reference

 The six figure grid reference is used when you want to identify a smaller object inside a square
e.g. a stream junction

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  A six figure grid reference gives a precise or accurate position of a point in a given grid square.
 When taking a six figure grid reference, a four figure grid reference is taken

Calculating distance

Measuring straight line distance: The following steps are followed:

 Draw a straight line connecting the two points

 Get a piece of paper and place the edge of the piece of paper along the line and mark the two
points on the piece of paper.
 Measure the length on the linear scale by placing the piece of paper along the scale with the
first marked point at 0.

Measuring distance not straight (i.e. Road, Railway) or River:

When measuring distances along map features that are not straight, the segment method is used. The
segments are made in straight line segments. The steps are as follows

 Divide the length to be measured into segments, parts or stretches that seem to be straight
lines.
 Measure each of the segments independently. A piece of paper with a straight edge may be
used to record the length of each segment
 Place a mark on the paper at the start point and at the second up until the end of the irregular
line asked to calculate.
 The readings are then taken to the linear scale to give the accurate distance.

The string method can also be used to measure distance of irregular shapes

 A string is used to follow all the bends of either the road, railway or river to be measured. The
string is then stretched and placed along the linear scale to calculate the distance.

Measuring Bearings

Direction from one place to another on a map can be given more accurately by using bearing.

 Bearing is an accurate way of giving the direction of one place in relation to another
 Bearing is the direction measured as an angle.
 Bearing is measured in degrees.

When measuring bearings the following steps should be considered

 Join the two places involved using a straight line and name them A and B
 Draw a line showing the direction of the true north through the point from which the bearing is
being considered.
 Using a protractor, measure the angle between the north and the line which joins the two
places.

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  Please note that: when calculating bearing, the key word in the question is the word
from. i.e. if you are asked to find the bearing of B from A, you will draw the compass or
the arrow through A because the question says From A.
 The angle is always measured from the true north in a clockwise direction

Relief

Relief is the difference in elevation (or height) between parts of the Earth's surface.

Contour Lines

Contour lines are the most common method of showing relief and elevation on a standard topographic
map. A contour line represents an imaginary line on the ground, above or below sea level. All points on
the contour line are at the same elevation. The elevation represented by contour lines is the vertical
distance above or below sea level. A contour interval (VI) is the difference in height between contour
lines.

Contour lines always increase or decrease by the same amount. To check for the vertical interval, check
the key i.e (20m). Check the two contour with heights indicated.

Gradient: Gradient is the steepness of a slope. To calculate the average gradient, there is need to know:

 The altitude or height of two points.

 The distance between the two points, then find the different in height between two points.
 Then measure and convert the distance in height of two points by their distance apart.
 Finally divide the difference in height of two points by their distance apart (horizontal
equivalence)
 Therefore gradient is calculated by the following formula
 Gradient = Difference in Height
Difference in equivalence

Other landforms

1. Ridge: a long upland area

2. Escarpment: a ridge with a steep slope on one side and a gentle slope on another.
3. Watershed: a high land that separates two river systems
4. Knoll: a low isolated hill
5. Plateau: a high flat land
6. Gorge: a deep steep sided river valley
7. Gap/pass: a depression between two hills

A settlement is a place where people live, settlements in towns differ from those in rural areas

The following are the types of settlement:

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 1. Dispersed or isolated settlement: This is the type of settlement where individual buildings lie
isolated or part from one another. This type of settlement is mostly common in rural areas
where the population is sparse. Leave space for the diagram
2. Nucleated or clustered settlement: these are settlement arranged in such a way that there are
a number of houses close together. In these settlements there are social amenities such as
shops, schools, places of worship etc. Leave space for the diagram
3. Linear settlement: This is the type settlement where buildings are built in a line along a road,
river or stream. This type of settlement is usually planned

Drainage patterns

A drainage pattern refers to the total network formed by the river and its tributaries over the surface of
the earth. There are three types of drainage patterns namely:

a) Dendritic drainage
b) Trellis drainage
c) Radial drainage
1. Dendritic drainage: The word dendritic comes from a Greek word ‘Dendron’ which means ‘tree’
Dendritic or tree like drainage pattern developed on homogenous rock or beds of equal
resistance. The initial stream that exists as a consequence of the slope is called the consequent
stream. If the rocks are composed of homogeneous beds of uniform resistance to erosion, the
tributaries will join the main valley obliquely as in sequent streams. Leave space for the diagram
2. Trellis or rectangular drainage pattern: This forms when faulting causes rectangular rock joining
on which rivers develop. The tributaries join the main streams at right angles (90 0). The drainage
pattern which will be developed will be rectangular in shape and is called trellis drainage
pattern. Trellised or rectangular drainage pattern developed on alternating outcrops of harder
and softer rocks. Leave space for the diagram
3. Radial drainage pattern: This is develops on a dome shaped landforms such as volcanic or
glaciated hills from which rivers radiate into different. It appears just like the spokes of the
bicycle wheel. Leave space for the diagram

Revision questions

1. What is the difference between a map and a diagram?

2. Give the characteristics of a map.

3. Define settlement and give the three types of settlement pattern.

4. Explain the types of drainage patterns.

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